Florida Trend Exclusive
Hospitals: Surge capacity
On June 12, 2016, the staff of the emergency trauma center at Orlando Regional Medical Center treated Pulse nightclub shooting victims during the second deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, with 49 lives lost. The surge of patients overfilled the hospital’s aging trauma bay, pushing staff to the limit. However, all 35 victims who made it to the hospital alive were saved. “We made it work when we needed to,” says Dr. Joseph Ibrahim, an Orlando Regional trauma surgeon who treated Pulse shooting victims. [Source: Florida Trend]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Pressure check
Graduates from two state university nursing programs who take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) early next year may feel added pressure. The fate of those programs could hinge on whether they pass. Alan Levine, vice chair of the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) overseeing the state’s public universities, said last summer that he’d be willing to end nursing programs at Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic universities if they don’t dramatically improve first-time passage rates on the nursing boards. [Source: Florida Trend]
Changes are coming to Medicare. Here's what you need to know
Florida has more people getting their health insurance from the federal government than any other state, other than California. More than one out of every 10 Floridians are on traditional Medicare. Add in the other 2½ million people who use Medicare Advantage through private insurers and about one out of every five people in Florida relies on some version of Medicare to help pay for their health care. [Source: WUSF]
UF Health developing first treatment for significant pregnancy risk
The life of billions of people inhabiting Earth is owed to a temporary organ that supported and nourished them in a mother’s womb. The placenta, or afterbirth, is considered sacred by some cultures, its pivotal role in pregnancy recognized as far back as the raising of Egypt’s pyramids. It provides nutrients and oxygen to the fetus via the umbilical cord, acting like a gut, kidney, liver and lungs. If the placenta fails, only one hazardous option remains — premature delivery through induced labor or cesarean delivery. [Source: UF Health]
Pinellas teacher dies from Legionnaires disease, Florida Department of Health investigating
Pasadena Fundamental Elementary is mourning the loss of one of its teachers, 61-year-old Kathy Pennington, after she died on Nov. 24. Pennington had just celebrated her 61st birthday two days before she died. Her family said she was admitted to the hospital with a high fever and chills and that her health rapidly declined. She spent four days in intensive care and was put on dialysis. [Source: FOX 13 News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› As RSV levels rise in Florida, vaccine levels remain low
As temperatures cool down, at least one respiratory virus is ramping up activity. Nationally and locally, the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is showing more signs of activity.
› Bay Area man retiring from Shriners Hospital after creating about 10,000 artificial limbs for children
A Tampa Bay area man behind the creation of an estimated 10,000 artificial limbs for children while working for Shriners Hospital is retiring after 38 years of work.
› Baptist Health opens new freestanding emergency room in West Boca
Baptist Health celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new, state-of-the-art freestanding emergency room (ER) in West Boca. The facility will operate as a department of Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health.
› Florida adds restrictive prison policy on trans health care
As part of a new policy for people with gender dysphoria, prison medical staff ranked the women’s breast size using a scale designed for adolescents. Those whose breasts were deemed big enough were allowed to keep their bras.